Hi, just got myself an 02 3 door abarth yesterday.
Very good condition for a 6 year old car, 69000 miles, FSH, service at 64000.
Electrics all fine so far, and generally very impressed.

Drove it 150miles to get home and it's great to drive.
To put things into perspective, previously I had a 1.2l brava which has been slowly dying for the last couple of years, so it's a massive change in performance.
The main thing I noticed is how effortless it all is. With the brava I was constantly at the redline and had to drop to 3rd to go up steep hills or overtake! With the Abarth, I feel like I could just drive around in 5th all day.
I had a few little bursts to see what it could do, and it's frightening how quick you're suddenly going - especially since 80 feels like 50.
I need to learn that I don't need to keep my foot planted when overtaking as a couple of times I found myself going much too fast once I got past someone.

I've not quite got the hand of the selespeed gearbox yet, and have heard conflicting stories about the best technique to shift up. Seems to be much smoother if you lift off the accelerator when shifting, but have heard that with foot planted and high revs it is v. quick?
I'm also not sure about the best way to shift down when approaching roundabouts etc.
I have been doing it manually, quite early and it's not been great. Seems to be ok if you leave it to do it automatically, but occasionally feels like it is close to stalling before it shifts. Will have to keep practising, I guess it takes a bit of getting used to.
One annoying thing is that the flappy paddles are attached to the steering wheel, so when turning and changing gear there not where I expect them - I would find it easier if they were in a fixed position as you can't really keep your hands at 10 and 2 when turning tightly. Seems like it's designed for an F1 car where half a turn is full lock.

Just about got the hand of the connect nav. Although I haven't worked out how to stop the sat nav without switching it right off - i.e. how do you delete the destination as it keeps telling me I have arrived at my destination whenever I go anywhere as I set it to take me home yesterday?
Would really like to update the software and maps - but can't afford to pay £200 for it. Have read the rules here about the ISO's so no chance of downloading at the moment, unless anyone would be willing to burn me a copy and post it? It had me driving through fields a couple of times yesterday, and I am having the error where it tells me I'm a mile from things when I am much closer.
Automatic wipers seem a bit over enthusiastic sometimes, and squeaking a bit - maybe need to get some new blades.

Love the styling - sporty without making people think I am a boy racer (too old for that), think they get a big shock when I put my foot down.
Great colour, love the 17" alloys, nice inside as well.
One thing I didn't expect was the glowy red dash at night, really nice.

Anyway, overall couldn't really be much happier. Will see how long it takes before it breaks down!

Sorry for the long post

V V nice looking that one mate - I wanted that colour before I saw my yellow one!

Shouldn't be too long before something goes wrong, mine took a week... Easy fix though! If you've bought a good 'un with a history etc you should be fine and dandy.

Know what you mean bout the paddles being fixed! I try to change up with the stick if i'm cornering whilst booting it (which I don't do often - i'm sure you can see the petrol needle dropping when you put your foot down)

Hi,

i agree with d34noj, nice colour and that something will go wrong but with the help of this forum, it will probably be the most cost effective car to repair!

the gearbox is a sod, for a while i thought it was my driving ability letting me down so took it to silverstone trackw ith a friend who ahs an golf R32 and tested it out. after that i found that the computer change when your foot isplanted is MORE than sufficient, it just feel like you are going slow for some reason... so after all my efforts i have just left it to the computer to sort and only ever manually change down a gear to accelerate/overtake. like you i am still amazed at how many revs this car can handle before it changes... GODLY wouldnt you say!! my previous car was a seat leon cupra... quicker in ways but didnt feel like this!!

with the sat nav, i think it is a case of going to last destinations, then select delete previous destination or something. Had the same problem but ahvent used it since then so cant remember 100%.

With regards to the maps, if you donate some money to the forum, Stu demond may help ya. send him a message and ask. I have the maps if you cant get hold of him but think it only fair if you donate to the forum as you are saving a PACKET!

i bought some aero blades off ebay a couple of days ago for £4.50 each.... EACH.. bargain!! they are brilliant and no more squeaking!! you need 19", 22" and 14".

you have bought a beauty and no doubt for bugger all as well. I am thinking about campaigning for it to be on top gear, i feel it deserves more and after the R32 battle it is up there with the big boys!

enjoy!

Thanks, have ordered a pair of bosch aerotwins for the front, will probably add the rear one later on.
Did a bit of research and found the quick up shift with foot on the gas only kicks in after 5000 revs. I just hadn't been revving it that high as it doesn't really seem to need it. Had a quick blast earlier and it was much better.
Don't have a problem with a donation to the forum in exchange for maps etc. - as you say I would be saving a lot.
Will pm Stu and see.
Was driving with the instant fuel consumption on the dash display for a while, but it was too depressing so I changed it back to the radio - managed 3.4mpg briefly.

My next problem is setting off at lights etc. going uphill. I tended to hold it on the clutch with my old car unless I was stopping for a while. Now I find myself having to put the hand brake on all the time. Not sure if there is another way to do it. Possibly left foot on the brake and accelerate as you come off it? Want to avoid rolling back and looking stupid. Probably need to find a deserted hill for a practice.

The price of these cars really is unbelievable. Considering the performance and all the kit, it's really silly - anything similar seems to be a couple of grand more at least.
Got a really complete service history etc. with it, seems to be a good one. Time will tell.

glad it is sorted! It is strange getting used to the racey engine. In most 'normal' cars the change is needed much earlier, the car responds very well under pressure! I found that if i get to 4500-5000 revs or so, drop it down a gear and floor it it goes like sh*t off a shovel!!! it always makes me happy when i know a few others are having as much fun as me and have that.. yeah i paid less than £3500 for it smirk on our faces whilst boming past a £30000+ mercedes!!!

if you can keep the car at 3000 revs thereabouts it will hold on a hill no probs, it is worth getting used to it, a few people including myself have snapped the handbrake link becasue we accelerated to quick off hill start. BUT.. as there always is ... it just guzzles petrol but if that was a concern you would never have gotten a stilo abarth!!

[ yeah i paid less than £3500 for it smirk on our faces whilst boming past a £30000+ mercedes!!!


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its so much better when you see the strain on their faces as they try to go quicker. I wonder how many complained their car were too slow after a Stilo Abarth shot past them. Friday 2 chavs in an old 3 series beemer tried it on. My wife could here their car screaming to go faster....I outrun them in 4th at 115. No effort and still had petrol and 2 chavs are pretty peeved off

Fvet said:

My next problem is setting off at lights etc. going uphill. I tended to hold it on the clutch with my old car unless I was stopping for a while.

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mk85 said:

if you can keep the car at 3000 revs thereabouts it will hold on a hill no probs, it is worth getting used to it, a few people including myself have snapped the handbrake link becasue we accelerated to quick off hill start.

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PLEASE don't do this :nono:
Yes the Selespeed will 'hold' the car on a hill at 3000RPM, but that's extremely bad for the clutch, just as it would be in a standard manual-transmission car. The clutch is the same single-disc type after all - it's not a torque converter (as an automatic would have).

Fvet said:

Now I find myself having to put the hand brake on all the time. Not sure if there is another way to do it. Possibly left foot on the brake and accelerate as you come off it? Want to avoid rolling back and looking stupid. Probably need to find a deserted hill for a practice.

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YES! That is how you do it... use the brake to hold the car stationary and the Selespeed keeps the clutch fully disengaged. Hold the brake with your left foot and increase revs with your right foot for best smoothness moving off. Takes a little practice but if you get it right it's nowhere near as hard on the clutch as the 'hill holding' technique you mentioned. You only need this technique for hill starts - can use right foot for braking the rest of the time.

I think I still hold the record for Abarth fuel economy at 36mpg around-town https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-technical/98236-stilo-mpg-concerns-2.html?p=1066879

-Alex

Fvet said:

I've not quite got the hand of the selespeed gearbox yet, and have heard conflicting stories about the best technique to shift up. Seems to be much smoother if you lift off the accelerator when shifting,

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Haven't driven an abarth yet but I'd say foot off the accelerator whilst shifting. Used to have a 51plate tiptronic passat(beautiful beast) and that was the technique i used to used and it seemed to help.

Ciongratulations and nice car.

alexGS said:

I think I still hold the record for Abarth fuel economy at 36mpg around-town https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo-technical/98236-stilo-mpg-concerns-2.html?p=1066879

-Alex

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36 MPG???!!! WTF!!! Do you coast EVERYWHERE?!

I'm getting 19-20ish and drops lower when i'm 'playful'

Dude - Tell me you secret, share with me your wisdom

Thanks for the replies.

Ok, updated the cn+ to 9.8 and got the latest maps.

Managed 34mpg through town yesterday on a short trip, must have been a fluke.

Still getting a feel for the car, inching forward to park without a clutch is a bit tricky, and visibility over my right shoulder when reversing is more or less non-existant! At least it has parking sensors.

My biggest disappointment with the car so far is the horn. It is incredibly weedy - more of a meep than a HONK. Wouldn't be so bad in the standard stilo, but it's seriously cramping my style in the Abarth

Fvet said:

Thanks for the replies.

Ok, updated the cn+ to 9.8 and got the latest maps.

Managed 34mpg through town yesterday on a short trip, must have been a fluke.

Still getting a feel for the car, inching forward to park without a clutch is a bit tricky, and visibility over my right shoulder when reversing is more or less non-existant! At least it has parking sensors.

My biggest disappointment with the car so far is the horn. It is incredibly weedy - more of a meep than a HONK. Wouldn't be so bad in the standard stilo, but it's seriously cramping my style in the Abarth

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One of the benefits of having a 1.2 is the fuel consumption

The visibility is a bit dodgy in the Stilo, the C-pillars are rather thick. Saying that though, I can only imagine how terrible it is out of something like that Astra Sporthatch. Have had issues getting my Stilo down a drive before as well, it's not the narrowest of vehicles

The horn was, if I remember correctly, an improvement over the one I had in my old mk2 Punto. I guess you could always put a screaming Ferrari one on or better still...the ever popular Dukes of Hazard one

muppet42 said:

The horn was, if I remember correctly, an improvement over the one I had in my old mk2 Punto. I guess you could always put a screaming Ferrari one on or better still...the ever popular Dukes of Hazard one

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Well I have been tempted to slide in through the window since it does that automatic opening thing through the central locking.

muppet42 said:

One of the benefits of having a 1.2 is the fuel consumption

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U took the words right out of my mouth got some claws om yours yet?

Fvet said:

Well I have been tempted to slide in through the window since it does that automatic opening thing through the central locking.

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Dunno if the suspension on a Stilo would be up for jumping over rivers and the like though

StevenkSengwayo said:

U took the words right out of my mouth got some claws om yours yet?

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Alloys will be after the lowering's been done. Shall see how it looks on the 16"s I have the now. Have seen a few sets of Claws go on eBay recently, some sprayed black, which looks rather nice. Don't think I'll go bigger than 17" anyway, given the size of engine

d34noj said:

36 MPG???!!! WTF!!! Do you coast EVERYWHERE?!

I'm getting 19-20ish and drops lower when i'm 'playful'

Dude - Tell me you secret, share with me your wisdom

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Thanks

Seriously, I don't have my Stilo anymore, but Argonought still drives his, and will share much the same wisdom...

Specific to the Stilo Abarth (Selespeed), I used to move off in 1st, then at about 3000RPM or less, 'double-click' the paddle to change from 1st to third, then accelerate smoothly to a generous 60km/h (a bit over the speed limit of 50km/h/30mph I might add ) and then double-click again to shift to 5th, using 5th only to maintain the speed (or slow slightly) and not to accelerate (since that would be hard on the gearbox - 5th is intended for cruising at speeds above 80km/h/50mph).

A nice thing about the Stilo Abarth is the torque of the engine - torque is good for economy - the ability to pull high gears is what makes an engine economical and the 2.4 is no exception. However the 2.4 is also good for power at the top end, so it makes it very much a test of discipline not to exert the engine in an Italian way, as then it really drinks the fuel... (it's a similar story with my 164 - I feel that both the Stilo and the 164 are economical in the right conditions).

The key is to avoid the sharp acceleration. You need to build up a generous speed smoothly and constantly...

...and then - as you said - coast as far as you can. Do this by anticipating having to slow for traffic ahead, or red lights, etc. - as soon as you're aware that you might have to stop, off the throttle. Put off using the brakes for as long as possible (see below).

The sooner that you slow down, the more likely that you'll be able to continue without having to come to a full stop and then start off (which is what uses the petrol).

It follows that it is not just the accelerator but also the brake pedal that uses fuel. As Argonought eloquently put it, "energy dissipated by the brakes is lost to the universe forever". Well not quite (it turns into heat) but if you can retain that energy as forward momentum, you'll save fuel.

Argonought is a proponent of The Brakeless Driving Club (I believe that's what he called it ) which involves, I should think, some pretty high-speed cornering. Make sure you keep the car balanced if you're attempting corners at higher-than-usual speeds! Turn in on a light, not closed, throttle (obviously don't turn-in under braking, because brakes aren't allowed!) and try the effect of applying power through the turn. The benefit is obvious - more speed through a corner means less acceleration afterwards and therefore, less fuel used. But be as smooth as you can, so as not to wear the tyres or aggravate your passengers.

As you can gather, being economical is not just about being slow. It's more about conserving speed - which means possibly a higher speed downhill just so that you can get up the next hill without using as much fuel. Accelerating up a hill, or even maintaining a constant speed up a hill, is the worst thing you can do. That is why cruise control (another Abarth feature) is not necessarily the best for economy. I can out-MPG the cruise control any day! It has two problems - it tends to use 4th instead of 5th the moment any acceleration is necessary (because it accelerates too hard - press RES at a low speed and you'll know what I mean), and also it maintains a speed no-matter-what, which is going to be problematic in hilly terrain.

Obviously we all have times where a burst of speed is necessary to get out of a side-turning or get across a roundabout, etc. Your experience will tell you when these judicious outbursts are necessary; and when they can be saved

Incidentally, I always used Selespeed Manual mode. Auto makes far too many gearchanges, and just generally feels like a nervous learner driver is at the controls...

Although economical driving may seem less 'exciting', you will come to realise that it represents a Zen-like state of man(kind) balanced with the machine, and you will derive true satisfaction in the long term - arriving at your destination more relaxed, yet also more focussed.

Hope this helps

-Alex

alexGS said:

But be as smooth as you can, so as not to wear the tyres or aggravate your passengers.

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Guilty of that on more than one occasion (those in back seem to be especially unhappy with G-forces )

Alex, that must now be the definite post on driving economically

ARHHH I just gave my Abarth away or as good as on a trade in at Sunwin, Nottingham. You could of had yourself a blinder with 17" Alloys and an extended 2 year warranty. Only 54000 on the clock and a 52 plate, I have the Croma with the new style Connect Nav + with 07/08 Nav Teq Maps.

Still a very nice looking car but be careful very thirsty and from next year onwards very expensive to tax.

Alex, that must now be the definite post on driving economically

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Thanks

Actually I mis-quoted you... the word was 'galaxy', not 'universe'. https://www.fiatforum.com/stilo/108363-went-view-abarth-but-2.html?p=1146989

-Alex

Tony the Tiger said:

Still a very nice looking car but be careful very thirsty and from next year onwards very expensive to tax.

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Got it with 6 months tax, which means that tax will be due before April increases, so I can get a year at the current price, and again next year before they go really silly. Should save me a few hundred pounds I think.

Update on the car, have put a pair of bosch aerotwin wipers on and the difference is night and day. Never thought I would be so excited about wipers!

Been loving being able to overtake people easily (and safely) on the way to and from work - twisty 60mph coast road that an awful lot of people do 40 on. On the few fairly short straight sections I just nip past with plenty of space to spare, there was absolutely no chance I could do it in my old brava. I haven't quite got used to it and still hesitate a bit because I forget I actually can do it now.

welcome to fiat forum,hope you enjoy you're abarth..look after her and she will look after you